N.C. Dem leader accused of satanism

DURHAM, N.C., July 1 (UPI) -- A Durham, N.C., Democratic official and her husband face criminal charges in connection with alleged satanic rituals.

Joy Johnson, 30, a third vice-chairwoman of the Durham County Democratic Party and vice chairwoman of the Young Democrats, was charged Friday with two counts of aiding and abetting. Her husband, Joseph Scott Craig, 25, was charged with second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for incidents in January and May, the Raleigh News & Observer reported Tuesday.

Mark McCullough, an assistant district attorney, would not release details of the allegations. But in court on Monday, he acknowledged that "part of the allegations are that satanic worship is part of this case."

Craig has been charged with beating a man with a cane and a cable cord and assaulting a woman with a wooden cane and raping her. His bail was set at $500,000 while Johnson's was set at $275,000 after the couple spent the weekend in the Durham County jail.